56 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



island. His record of many of the larger sea birds is an accurate one, as he is 

 perfectly familiar with such birds as Loons, Shags, and Gannets, but most of 

 the land birds are classed together as small land birds, although some have been 

 accurately identified. I am much indebted to him for his kindness in allowing 

 me to examine this record, and for much interesting information, as well as for 

 sending me some of the birds killed against the lights. Mr. Tarr has been 

 a keeper at Thatcher's Island since 1876, and he thinks that the number of 

 birds striking the lights has diminished, but his records for the last twenty 

 years do not show this to be the case. 



The number killed annually varies greatly, averaging about 1 5 or 20, but 

 amounting to many more in some years, or even in a single night. The earliest 

 and latest dates at which birds are recorded as being killed are, April 6th to 

 June 1 8th in the spring flight, and July 20th to December 18th in the fall 

 flight, showing fairly well the migratory periods. To many, July 20th may seem 

 too early for the autumn migration, not realizing that the beginning of this 

 movement occurs so early in the summer. I myself have heard small land 

 birds passing over in large numbers during the night as early as July 27th, and 

 the arrival in the first part of July of many shore and sea birds is well known. 

 As early as August 8th, fifteen small land birds are recorded as having been 

 killed in one night at Thatcher's Island. Hawks, Flickers, Crows, Blackbirds, 

 Swallows, Robins, and Bluebirds, all easily identified birds, have never struck the 

 lights. These are all known to be day-migrating birds. On the other hand, a 

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, included among the diurnal migrants,^ struck on 

 May 13th, 1886. Mr. F. J. Cook, one of the under keepers, told me that he 

 saw another Hummingbird flying about the lantern one dark night, but it 

 escaped unharmed. Ducks, Brant, Petrels, Phalaropes, Curlew, Sandpipers, 

 Plover, Bittern, Rail, Brown Thrasher, Titmouse, and Woodcock are among the 

 victims recorded by Mr. Tarr. I have myself identified a Black-billed Cuckoo 

 killed on June loth, 1903, at 11 p. m. ; a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on Sep- 

 tember 28th, 1903; Yellow Redpoll Warbler, April 19th, 1904; 8 Northern 

 Phalaropes, September 9th, 1904; Magnolia Warbler, October 8th, 1904; 

 Swamp Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Solitary Vireo, 

 and Parula Warbler on October 9th and loth, 1904. 



In some cases the velocity of the bird, when it strikes, is so great that the 

 glass outside the lantern is broken. This glass is one cjuarter inch French 

 plate. One Brant and five Ducks, two of them Blue-winged Teals, are recorded 

 by Mr. Tarr as having gone through this glass. In one case the Duck was 

 picked up intact with the exception of the head, which was missing. Another 



1 Wm. Brewster: Bird Migration, Mem. Nuttall Cm. Club, no. i, p. 19, 1S86. 



